Commissioner
Banister entertained a motion to amend and approve the meeting agenda as follows:

Old Business

Add item b)2nd Reading Amendment-Building
Permit Ordinance

New Business

Remove item e) Alan Johnson-The Ridge Subdivision

Executive Session

Remove need for Litigation Matters

Commissioner
Carter provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

Approve
Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

1/13/04
Regular Meeting

Commissioner
Oglesby entertained a motion to amend and approve the minutes of the January
13th, 2004 meeting. Commissioner Banister provided a second to
the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

Remarks
by Invited Guests, Committees, Authorities

None

Reports
by Constitutional Officers & Department Heads

County
Attorney Walter Gordon gave a brief update on the case in the U.S. District
Court involving an inmate in the county jail facility. He reported that the
Jury's verdict was in favor of the county.

County
Administrator's Report

Interim
Administrator Caime commended the Emergency Response team, 911 dispatch, the
two full time fire fighters, Road personnel and the Public Works Specialist
for their efforts during the ice storm.

He
reported on the outcome of the meeting he had with City Manager Phil Hertz
on the SPLOST issue. He reported that the City officials will provide the
county with a list of projects and the cost.

He
also reported that he discussed relocation of the city's utilities at the
new Recreation Park site.

Commissioner
Dorsey remarked that SPLOST funds should be available for the City and that
some county projects may have to be delayed in order for them to get the funds.

Interim
Administrator Caime suggested that the commissioners wait until the 2003 audit
is complete.

Commissioner
Banister remarked that the SPLOST cash flow projection is very tight for 2004.
Commissioner Dorsey responded that it is not right to hold the City of Hartwell's
funds hostage.

Commissioner
Oglesby entertained a motion to take action on the City's SPLOST funds and
put it on the next meeting agenda. Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to
the motion.

Commissioner
Banister remarked that any of the commissioners can request an item to be
placed on the agenda without a motion. He also remarked that they should review
the SPLOST documentation and cash flow.

Commissioner
Oglesby entertained a motion to table the issue. Commissioner Banister provided
a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

Chairman's
Report

Chairman
Reyen commended the county employees for their efforts during the recent ice
storm and those that showed up for work even though they weren't required
to.

Commissioners'
Reports

Commissioner
Banister inquired about the status of the landfill ordinance. County Attorney
Gordon responded that he would have a draft ready for the next meeting.

Commissioner
Dorsey remarked that he felt that the Code Enforcement officer position should
be funded on a part time basis.

Consent
Agenda

None

Old
Business

a) Action to release hold on Hart County DDA funds

Chairman
Reyen gave a brief update on the hold on DDA funds and turned the floor over
to Mary Alice Applegate.

Ms.
Applegate reported that Mr. Storing visited her office in July 2003 and that
she answered most of his questions. She remarked that Mr. Storing became agitated
and that he said she should know that she is a target. She explained that
she filed an incident report.

Chairman
Reyen asked if Mr. Storing received the information that he requested. Ms.
Applegate responded that he has received the information.

Commissioner
Dorsey questioned Mr. Storing remark as being a threat. Ms. Applegate responded
that she took the appropriate action in filing the report.

Commissioner
Dorsey asked Ms. Applegate if Mr. Storing was in a hostile mode. Ms. Applegate
responded that he was.

Chairman
Reyen remarked that there's a difference of an on the spot request vs following
proper procedure.

Commissioner
Carter asked Ms. Applegate if she spends funds or makes decisions on her own.
Ms. Applegate explained that the Downtown Development Authority has a Board
of Directors that makes funding decisions.

Chairman
Reyen entertained a motion to release funds to the DDA. Commissioner Banister
provided a second to the motion.

Commissioner
Banister stated that the information Mr. Storing requested was provided to
him and that there is no violation of the law.

Chairman
Reyen remarked that there was a misunderstanding and there was not an attempt
to hide anything that Mr. Storing requested.

Mr.
Storing presented the commissioners with seven “facts” for consideration. He said Ms. Applegate
gave a false report to the police and she intended to get him arrested. He
said that there was no reason for her to file a report against him. He reported
that he requested the City Council to terminate Ms. Applegate.

City
Council George Rooks stated that there was no basis for the county withholding
the DDA funds.

DDA
member Cary Jackson supported Ms. Applegate's decision to file an incident
report and remarked that she wasn't asking for police action. He also stated
the all the information has been provided to Mr. Storing that he requested.

Commissioner
Oglesby asked how Mr. Storing found out about the incident report. Ms. Applegate
responded that City Manager Hertz wrote a letter to Mr. Storing.

Commissioner
Dorsey questioned when the reported was filed with the police. Ms. Applegate
responded that she was very busy and she filed a report four days after Mr.
Storing made his visit to her office.

Chairman
Reyen called for a vote. The vote carried 5-0 to release the DDA funds.

b) 2nd Reading Amendment-Building Permit Ordinance

Interim
Administrator Caime read the amendment to the Building Permit Ordinance.

Commissioner
Dorsey entertained a motion to accept the Building Permit Ordinance amendment
as the second reading. Commission Oglesby provided a second to the motion.

An
individual asked if the amendment would affect outside structures. Chairman
Reyen responded that as long as the threshold was under $2,500 it would not
affect outside structures.

Herb
Emmel asked if an individual is required to get a permit if they replaced
a roof costing $4,000. Chairman Reyen responded that as long as the style
of the roof is not changed a permit is not required.

Chairman
Reyen called for a vote. The vote carried 5-0.

New
Business

a) Request to put out bid for Service Truck for Fire

Interim
Administrator Caime reported that the Fire Department has located a used 4WD
diesel with 94,000 miles on the odometer for $28,800.

After
discussing the matter, Commissioner Dorsey entertained a motion to put the
Service Truck out for bid. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the
motion. The motion carried 5-0.

b) Discussion & possible action for Bid Award - Stone

Commissioner
Oglesby entertained a motion to award the bid to Matal. Commissioner Dorsey
provided a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

c) Discussion & possible action for Bid Lawn Care

Commissioner
Dorsey entertained a motion to put the lawn care for county facilities out
for bid. Commissioner Banister provided a second to the motion. The motion
carried 5-0.

Commissioner
Oglesby entertained a motion to remove the item from the table for discussion.
Commissioner Dorsey provided a second to the motion.

Commissioner
Banister remarked that the staffing and pay analysis plan needs to be looked
at thoroughly and there are a lot of issues. He also stated he thought the
issue needs to be discussed at the next budget time.

Commissioner
Dorsey remarked that everyone agreed to review the pay analysis plan for the
EMT after the two new fire fighters were hired at a grade level higher than
the EMT positions.

The
motion failed 2-3 to remove the issue from the table (Chairman Reyen, Commissioners
Carter and Reyen opposed).

Public
Comment

None

Executive
Session

None

Adjournment

Commissioner
Oglesby entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Dorsey provided
a second to the motion. The motion carried 5-0.